Toyota Aurion TRD 2007 Review

When you are driving one of only six cars of its kind on Australian roads there is a fair chance you are going to get noticed.

It starts with the occasional turn of a head, other drivers pulling up alongside at the lights for a double take and people winding down their windows for a closer inspection. It tops out with people taking photos.

None of them seemed to be quite sure what the car was.

That's how it was with our 10-day test drive of the Toyota TRD Aurion, the first high-spec hot-performance version of the Toyota family sedan.

The car sits astride 19-inch alloys that give it a mean and eager stance.

So much so that once road grime and brake dust hide their gleam you feel obliged to wash them to restore the appeal. The TRD's uniqueness was heightened days after our test finished when every car (all six of them) was recalled because of engine problems in one.

Toyota has restarted sales after testing showed there was a problem with that one car being over-revved.

For all Toyota Australia's desires to match Holden and Ford's high-performance vehicle divisions in producing a top-end performance car they have created a stylish, sporty, safe and comfortable sedan.

It borders on saloon more than sedan with a feel, particularly the interior, being more Statesman than HSV Clubsport.

It comes in two levels of trim. The 3500S for sport is priced at $56,990, below the luxury car tax threshold.

It has a special TRD brake package and sports suspension, 19-inch alloy wheels, special bumpers and side skirts, sports seats and alloy pedals among its standard features.

I tested the 3500SL, for sports luxury, which is priced at $61,500.

It adds a computerised start button and car entry, a full leather interior, parking sensors, dual-zone airconditioning, a six-way front passenger seat to complement the driver's seat plus branded floor mats. Both models share the 241kW Eaton supercharged 3.5-litre V6 engine and both have an automatic six-speed box.

Engine power is up some 41kW from the top-spec Aurion; a 20 per cent increase which is noticeable and enjoyable. Acceleration response is impressive, the low-down torque derived through the supercharger gets things moving swiftly.

Toyota says it referenced its research into Australian driving habits when designing the car. It makes for interesting reading. It found Australian drivers want to accelerate briskly to the speed limit like Americans. But they also want to brake late into corners and maintain corner speed like European drivers.

Toyota quotes 6.1 seconds for rushing from standing to 100km/h. When the pedal is down you certainly notice the effect.

As well as having plenty of go, our test model stood out in black (Toyota calls it Ink) setting off its large, shiny metal wheels. Well, until it rained, that is. The black got very dirty and road grime and brake dust discoloured the large wheels.

Nothing a wash can't fix but the lesson is learned; black cars need more maintenance.

The car also comes in a far-easier-to-keep-clean silver.

The interior controls were well laid out and easy to read. Pressing a simple display button shows fuel economy average (which averaged 9.5 litres per 100km on test), how many kilometres were left to empty and the regular trip meter.

The mauve (Toyota calls it plum) and black seats are comfortable enough with the driver's seat being fully power-operated.

Missing inside though was something that should be mandatory in a $60,000 car; satellite navigation. Portable GPS units and maps are OK, but the price tag demands it should be a fixture rather than an optional extra.

Behind the grumbling driver there was plenty of room for the two rear seat passengers.

We packed the boot with enough luggage for a weekend away for four and there was plenty of room to do it.

Toyota has only given mild badge treatment to differentiate the car from your common garden-variety Aurion. If anything, the badge looks ordinary.

Holden and Fords of this ilk boast a V8 rumble but instead the V6 TRD has more of a surging sound.

It suggests something good is happening, at a different aural level.

One pleasing aspect was being able to control the harping and beeping reverse-parking sound. It seems particularly loud but the annoyance was overcome when I found the switch to turn it off.

Rear visibility is quite reasonable so the sensors are not an essential requirement. However, at least they are available for parking in tight or dark spots.

One problem with the car came during a weekend trip when a sensor came on indicating there was a drama with the electronic vehicle stability control. While the light was annoying, it did not affect the car's performance.

And so the obvious question is: Who will buy this car? Can Toyota create a new niche of buyer for what is undoubtedly a good car that some see as a luxury, sporty six-cylinder Camry costing $60,000?

Will Ford and Holden V8 fans be persuaded to move into a high-spec V6 boasting Toyota's noted reliability (despite the initial engine hiccup) or will buyers of hot-performance fours and sixes, such as the VW Golf R32, Subaru WRX STi or even the Mitsubishi Evo, try a Toyota?

Or will they gain people who were already planning to buy the top-end spec Aurion or Camry Sportivo?

It's a difficult question as the TRD Aurion doesn't sit in either camp.

The TRD Aurion isn't a rear-wheel-drive V8, but it does have their solid, luxury saloon feel. It isn't a screaming hot four but it does have good fuel economy and looks good.

Toyota's marketing say the buyers will be performance enthusiasts.

They are likely to be family men aged between 35 and 50 with average yearly incomes of $105,000, a quarter will earn more than $125,000.

The bottom line

Toyota earns praise for a performance car that delivers fuel economy with good looks and street cred.

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If you're in the market for a high-performance car would you purchase the TRD Aurion or would you stick with HSV or FPV?

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Snapshot

Toyota TRD Aurion

price: $56,990 (3500S), $61,500 (3500SL tested)

engine: 3.5L/V6 supercharged, 235kW/400Nm

transmission: 6-speed automatic, front-wheel-drive

The rivals

Subaru Liberty STi

Price: $56,990

Engine: 2.5L/4-cyl turbo 206kW/392Nm

Transmission: 6-speed manual

0-100km/h: 5.8secs

VW Golf R32 V6

Price: from $54,990

Engine: 3.2L/V6 184kW/320Nm

Transmission: 6-speed manual or DSG

0-100km/h: 6.2secs (m), 6.5secs (DSG)

HSV Clubsport R8

Price: from $62,890

Engine: 6.0L/V8 307kW/550Nm

Transmission: 6-speed automatic, 6-speed manual

0-100km/h: 4.9secs (man), 5.0secs (a)